Common Sense Living

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I’ve refined my secret window washing technique a little bit. If you’re like me and don’t have the time right now to ‘properly’ wash the windows – I mean, all that hanging out the window, or dragging the big ladder out, and up and down the ladder – it’s a whole day project!

I have devised a sneaky little system that will allow you to get the windows pretty clean. It won’t be as good as if you actually washed and shined them up, but it will take the majority of the grime off quickly.

If you have someone who can be inside the house and flip the windows up and down for you, this will go even faster!

You want to make a mixture of 1 cup of white vinegar and one gallon of warm water. Add a few drops of dish-washing liquid. Just a few drops!

I have a spray bottle that sprays pretty far. Or use your kids Super Soaker. Or you can use on of those bottles that attaches right to the hose. You would have to decrease the water because the hose will automatically add water to the mix as it sprays.

Start on one side of the house. From the inside, you’ll want to move all of the storm windows and screens down so that the outside of the interior window is exposed. Do the windows in the same order through every step so the first window has time to dry while you move to the others. Spray the window with the cleaning solution. Let it sit for about a minute. Rinse off with the hose.

Now, put the storms in the closed position. Spray and rinse, again in the same order as before.

Now, move the lower storm and screen up so the outside of the interior window is exposed. Spray with cleaning solution and rinse.

Ta-Da! One side is done.

Vacuum off the screens and wipe them down if needed.

Do a quick clean on the inside.

Like I said, its not going to be perfect, but the windows will look a whole lot better and you can go do something else. Sometimes good enough is good enough, don’t ya think? And honestly, you are the only person that will notice that they’re not perfect.

Here’s the fastest way to Put an End to Grime – Even if you have No Time If you Love a really clean home, but Hate cleaning it, you’ll want these time saving secrets. Learn how to Clean Your House Fast- and Keep it That Way! http://HowtoCleanHouseFast.com

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Woo-Ya! Finally a beautiful weekend.

I’m so excited, aren’t you?

What will you do?

Throw open the windows, throw on some good music and finish your spring cleaning?

Do some yard work?

Work in your gardens?

It’s been so cold I didn’t even think aobut ordering my tomato plants. It’s the perfect timing in my area. I’ll be able to get thiem in the ground around Mother’s Day if I make sure to get htem ordered this weekend.

I’ll be heading over to Henry Fields and ordering Beef Steak tomatoes (67966), and Early Girls (14115), and some brocolli seeds (66170) - , and lettuce – the Simpson Elite (11980) because it holds up the best and tastes yummy. Then I’ll be able to head out the door and pick my salad fresh! So Good. I can’t wait!

 I might wash a couple windows, or clean up the beach – whatever hits me. What about you?

Make it a point to enjoy these first great days!

If you haven’t finished your spring cleaning – here are the articles to help you -

Spring Cleaning – Phase 1

Spring Cleaning – Phase 2

If you want to have some fun planning your gardens – here are links to popular garding/catalog sites – (if you order through these links, I make a few cents)

Gurney’s

Henry Field’s

Michigan Bulb

SpringHill

I’m so excited. Can’t wait to get outside!

Have a great weekend!

Image by Mistress B via Flickr

Finally, the weather is starting to break, and we can start the phase 2 spring cleaning.

Cleaning the carpets

Brush animals

Vacuum and clean upholstery

Windows and screens

Deep clean floors

Cleaning all winter bedding

Vacuum mattresses

Clean the oven

Start sorting and cleaning spring and summer clothes. Donate or throw away the stuff you know you need to. Why have it taking up room if you’re never going to use it again? Be honest!

Now don’t think you have to do all of this in one weekend. If it’s really muddy, you don’t want to clean the carpets just yet – what’s the point? Pick a task that makes sense to do now and knock it out.

I haven’t done all of my windows yet because I know it’s still going to be cold. I’ve only done the insides, and the screens on the windows I’ve had opened.

The point is to knock out a little at a time so you’re not killing yourself - and so you’re free to go out and play when it finally does get warm.

Did you finish the phase 1 cleaning? Here’s the phase 1 spring cleaning run-down >>>

If you need more help >>>

Image by lcs_lshull via Flickr

While I was outside enjoying a beautiful spring day, I thought about you. I wondered if you were able to be oudoors enjoying a beautiful day too.

You weren’t stuck indoors cleaning, were you?

Now I tried to get you to get your cleaning done so you could be out playing on these beautiful days.

But lets see what we can do to help you out.

You already have your day to day cleaning under control, right? If not, you are way behind the 8 ball. Trying to clean the whole house once a year is a nightmare. Grab a copy of Secret Confessions of a Clean Freak and get yourself on a schedule. Getting the day to day stuff under control is half the battle.

Spring cleaning is the stuff we don’t always get around to. But if you take 1 task a day, you can still get it done pretty easily. Just pick a task from this list each day, and before you know it – everything will be clean and shiny. Won’t that be great?

OK, here’s the list -

Take items off shelves and tables, clean them, clean the shelves and tables. This inlcudes books, cds, dvds, figures, pictures, plants, whatever. Take a few minutes and do one every night if you’re limited on time.

Clean all pictures on the walls.

If you’re really ambitious, you can wash walls and ceilings, but that will take you a few days of hard work. At a minimum, take your upholstery brush on the vacuum cleaner and vacuum all walls and ceilings. You’d be suprised how much dust sticks there. I try to wash down a couple rooms every year at a minimum.

Vacuum behind and under all furniture. Pull over everything that you can and clean behind it.

Vacuum all upholstery, including under cushions. If you’re ambitious, clean the upholstery. If you’re not that amibitious, us an instant spray cleaner to freshen up the upholstery. Make sure to thoroughly vacuum when it’s dry.

At a minimum, dust all plants, both real and silk.

Clean out cabinets and drawers. Remove items and wipe out the cabinets. Do one every night when you do the dishes.

If you have an open area above your cabinets, clean it.

Clean the underside of the range hood. Hopefully this is part of your regular routine too. If not, make it a point after this.

Wash curtains.

Wash light fixtures.

The cabinet exteriors should be part of your regular routine, right?

That’s really it for phase one. It’s too early yet to do some things. And I don’t want you to feel overwhelmed. Just tackle those things for now and you’ll be in good shape! You don’t have to kill yourself. You have a few weeks to get this stuff done. Tackling a little at a time will make it a breeze.

I remember the days when I had a plate rail full of collectors plates around the entire formal dining room, and a chandelier, and sconces. Why did we used to put ourselves through all that? Yeah, it was pretty, but man – it was a lot of work!

And we’re all about making life easier here, aren’t we?

Really make your life easier  – if you don’t already own a copy of Secret Confessions of a Clean Freak - get it!

Image by Denis Collette…!!! via Flickr

I am going nuts!

I want to be outdoors.

It’s still cold. Really cold.

I decided instead of climbing the walls, I think maybe I’ll wash a couple.

That’s right, my continuing quest to get the spring cleaning done. Little bit here, little bit there.

Here are some things you can do when you have a few minutes -

Clean a closet

Clean a drawer

Sort some papers

Wipe out a cabinet

Wash a curtain or two

Vacuum behind something

If you just do one little bit everyday, you’ll be so cleaned and organized when the weather does finally break that you’ll have no choice but to enjoy it.

Make the most of the situation. That’s what I’m going to do.

Have a great day!

How to Clean House Fast